In Belligerent Statement, PA Calls ‘Occupied’ Jerusalem ‘Symbol of the Existence and Survival’ of Palestinian People

Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a meeting with members of the Central Committee in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Jan. 14, 2018. Photo: Flash90.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) issued a belligerent statement on Friday, calling “occupied Arab Jerusalem” the “capital of Palestine and symbol of the existence and survival of the Palestinian people,” the Hebrew news site Makoreported.

The statement followed reports this week that the Trump administration was delaying the unveiling of its long-awaited peace proposal due to Israeli concerns about its timing.

The PA also accused the “occupation authorities” of preventing the free movement of some of its top officials, asserting this was part of “ongoing aggression” by Israel against the Palestinians.

In the PA’s view, the only potential resolution to the conflict with Israel was the “enforcement of international laws that will bring an end to the occupation and spread justice, peace and stability in the region and the world.”

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Associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were worried, the report said, that the presentation of the American plan — which likely would include significant Israeli concessions — could hurt the ruling Likud party’s electoral prospects.

Due to this, the report added, Israeli government officials were planning to pressure their Trump administration counterparts to delay the publication of the plan until after the next Knesset elections, which might not occur until as late as next November.

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement this week, “The prime minister does not know when the American plan will be presented, and when it is, his only considerations will be national interests, first and foremost Israel’s security.”